Practices risk fines for failing to sort rubbish

Optical practices are risking hefty fines for a failure to comply with environmental laws specifically applicable to them, a spokesman for the Environment Agency (EA) told Optician this week.

Speaking about the launch of a website, www.NetRegs.gov.uk, which offers healthcare professionals online guidance on compliance, Richard Martin, programme manager for the website at the EA, said it was vital for small businesses to be aware of green laws to enable them to make significant cost savings and avoid fines.

'Some small businesses, including opticians, don't realise environmental legislation applies to them,' he said. 'Most opticians tend to think that their impact on the environment is minimal and therefore this doesn't really affect them, whereas in reality they collectively have a massive impact.